Solheim Cup could mean big money for region

Natalie Gulbis

Published: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 10:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 10:57 p.m.

With more than 100,000 spectators and millions more viewers from in play, Concession Golf Club’s bid to host the 2017 Solheim Cup could be the biggest score to date for Southwest Florida’s nascent sports-tourism efforts.

U.S. venues that have hosted the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s biennial meeting between top American and European golfers say Solheim represents more than just a highly viewed tournament.

“The Solheim Cup has really evolved into something remarkable,” said Gregor Jamieson, director of golf for the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, which hosted the inaugural Solheim tourney in 1990.

“LPGA paid us to host the very first one, and now, everyone is clamoring to get it,” Jamieson added.

Neither LPGA officials nor Concession’s owners would discuss the possibility of a Solheim bid. But local tourism officials say a Tampa-based consultant prepared a detailed bid package for the Manatee County-based club, which is located east of Lakewood Ranch.

For Concession, Solheim would be the biggest golf prize the Jack Nicklaus/Tony Jacklin-designed course has captured in its eight-year existence.

But for tourism officials, the LPGA’s most popular event — together with a bid to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park — would mark a turning point in the region’s efforts to land major sporting events.

Those who have hosted the golfing event in the U.S. in the past say it has exceeded their expectations. In 2009, for instance, when Solheim was held at Rich Haven Farms, just outside Chicago, it drew a record-breaking 120,000 spectators — more than double the population of the city of Sarasota — according to LPGA data.

Just as significantly, the five-day tournament — named for the founders of PING Golf — had an economic impact of more than $19 million for the surrounding Chicago area.

“The Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms brought in the largest dollar amount and spectator count the LPGA has ever seen,” said Jerry Rich, owner of Rich Harvest Farms, located in Sugar Grove, Ill. “But the major payoff was the exposure it gave to our community.”

That exposure took the course beyond the recognition it had already received in 2000, when Golf Digest named it one of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.”

A long process

Winning the right to host the event is just the first step in a long process, Rich said.

“It started in 2002 when we made our first pitch,” he said. “We didn’t know we had won until 2005. Then the planning began for the tournament that would come in 2009.”

To secure backing partners and promotional help, Rich Harvest Farms worked with nearby Northern Illinois University’s College of Business.

“It was like having 300 salesmen,” Rich said of the students who helped pitch the importance of the tournament to local civic groups. “It was amazing to see how many people knew what the Ryder Cup was, but not the Solheim.”

The Solheim is the women’s equivalent of the better-known Ryder Cup, one of the most popular events on the PGA calendar.

The Crooked Stick Golf Club, near Indianapolis, discovered how much Solheim has evolved in 2005, when more than 100,000 spectators showed up to watch the competition.

“The cup was a huge success for us. We’re not a regular tour stop, so when we host an event it’s usually a very special occasion for us,” said Tony Pancake, Crooked Stick’s director of golf.

Prior to Solheim, the private course hosted the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1993 U.S. Women’s Open.

Although the competition draws fans from across the country and internationally, officials from the last three host sites agree that most spectators come from the local area.

“Minnesota is a golf-nut state,” said George Carroll, general manager of Interlachen Country Club outside Minneapolis, site of the 2002 Solheim.

“We had people come out from all over, but we mainly attracted fans from Minnesota and Wisconsin.”

Carroll said the tournament was paid for through corporate sponsorships and ticket sales. The club made $300,000, after covering the costs of the tourney.

‘It can be done’

Though Concession has not held a pro match of Solheim’s caliber, the club has hosted various collegiate events and other competitions of note. In 2015, it will be the site of the NCAA Men and Women’s Championships.

But Solheim would almost certainly raise the profile of the Excel Golf course.

Interlachen Country Club, like Concession, had not hosted a major tournament since the 1930 U.S. Open.

But since hosting Solheim in 2002, the club has been the site of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open.

Crooked Stick hosted the 107th USGA Women’s Open, in 2007, and the 2009 U.S. Senior Open after its Solheim event, in 2005.

Like some of the other winning courses, Concession — named after a moment in the 1969 Ryder Cup tournament in which Nicklaus conceded a two-foot putt to Jacklin to decide the match — contains 18 holes of “core” golf.

And while hot weather could be a strike against Concession — Solheim usually takes place in late August — the last time it was held in Florida, at Lake Nona, it was held in November, Jamieson said.

“Obviously August is not ideal for Florida, but Palm Beach hosted the PGA Championship in the summer, so it can be done,” he said.

<p>With more than 100,000 spectators and millions more viewers from in play, Concession Golf Club's bid to host the 2017 Solheim Cup could be the biggest score to date for Southwest Florida's nascent sports-tourism efforts. </p><p>U.S. venues that have hosted the Ladies Professional Golf Association's biennial meeting between top American and European golfers say Solheim represents more than just a highly viewed tournament.</p><p>“The Solheim Cup has really evolved into something remarkable,” said Gregor Jamieson, director of golf for the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, which hosted the inaugural Solheim tourney in 1990.</p><p>“LPGA paid us to host the very first one, and now, everyone is clamoring to get it,” Jamieson added.</p><p>Neither LPGA officials nor Concession's owners would discuss the possibility of a Solheim bid. But local tourism officials say a Tampa-based consultant prepared a detailed bid package for the Manatee County-based club, which is located east of Lakewood Ranch.</p><p>For Concession, Solheim would be the biggest golf prize the Jack Nicklaus/Tony Jacklin-designed course has captured in its eight-year existence.</p><p>But for tourism officials, the LPGA's most popular event — together with a bid to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park — would mark a turning point in the region's efforts to land major sporting events.</p><p>Those who have hosted the golfing event in the U.S. in the past say it has exceeded their expectations. In 2009, for instance, when Solheim was held at Rich Haven Farms, just outside Chicago, it drew a record-breaking 120,000 spectators — more than double the population of the city of Sarasota — according to LPGA data. </p><p>Just as significantly, the five-day tournament — named for the founders of PING Golf — had an economic impact of more than $19 million for the surrounding Chicago area.</p><p>“The Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms brought in the largest dollar amount and spectator count the LPGA has ever seen,” said Jerry Rich, owner of Rich Harvest Farms, located in Sugar Grove, Ill. “But the major payoff was the exposure it gave to our community.” </p><p>That exposure took the course beyond the recognition it had already received in 2000, when Golf Digest named it one of “America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses.”</p><p><B>A long process</b></p><p>Winning the right to host the event is just the first step in a long process, Rich said. </p><p>“It started in 2002 when we made our first pitch,” he said. “We didn't know we had won until 2005. Then the planning began for the tournament that would come in 2009.”</p><p>To secure backing partners and promotional help, Rich Harvest Farms worked with nearby Northern Illinois University's College of Business.</p><p>“It was like having 300 salesmen,” Rich said of the students who helped pitch the importance of the tournament to local civic groups. “It was amazing to see how many people knew what the Ryder Cup was, but not the Solheim.” </p><p>The Solheim is the women's equivalent of the better-known Ryder Cup, one of the most popular events on the PGA calendar. </p><p>The Crooked Stick Golf Club, near Indianapolis, discovered how much Solheim has evolved in 2005, when more than 100,000 spectators showed up to watch the competition.</p><p>“The cup was a huge success for us. We're not a regular tour stop, so when we host an event it's usually a very special occasion for us,” said Tony Pancake, Crooked Stick's director of golf.</p><p>Prior to Solheim, the private course hosted the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1993 U.S. Women's Open.</p><p>Although the competition draws fans from across the country and internationally, officials from the last three host sites agree that most spectators come from the local area. </p><p>“Minnesota is a golf-nut state,” said George Carroll, general manager of Interlachen Country Club outside Minneapolis, site of the 2002 Solheim. </p><p>“We had people come out from all over, but we mainly attracted fans from Minnesota and Wisconsin.”</p><p>Carroll said the tournament was paid for through corporate sponsorships and ticket sales. The club made $300,000, after covering the costs of the tourney.</p><p><B>'It can be done'</b></p><p>Though Concession has not held a pro match of Solheim's caliber, the club has hosted various collegiate events and other competitions of note. In 2015, it will be the site of the NCAA Men and Women's Championships.</p><p>But Solheim would almost certainly raise the profile of the Excel Golf course.</p><p>Interlachen Country Club, like Concession, had not hosted a major tournament since the 1930 U.S. Open.</p><p>But since hosting Solheim in 2002, the club has been the site of the 2008 U.S. Women's Open. </p><p>Crooked Stick hosted the 107th USGA Women's Open, in 2007, and the 2009 U.S. Senior Open after its Solheim event, in 2005.</p><p>Like some of the other winning courses, Concession — named after a moment in the 1969 Ryder Cup tournament in which Nicklaus conceded a two-foot putt to Jacklin to decide the match — contains 18 holes of “core” golf.</p><p>And while hot weather could be a strike against Concession — Solheim usually takes place in late August — the last time it was held in Florida, at Lake Nona, it was held in November, Jamieson said. </p><p>“Obviously August is not ideal for Florida, but Palm Beach hosted the PGA Championship in the summer, so it can be done,” he said.</p>